Contents

Biography[edit]

Elihu Burritt was born December 8, 1810, in the town of New Britain, Connecticut. He is a descendant of William and Elizabeth Burritt from Stratford, Connecticut.[1] As an adult he was active in many causes, opposing slavery, working for temperance, and trying to achieve world peace. These accomplishments caused President Lincoln to appoint him as United States consul in Birmingham, England. He first trained as a blacksmith, and had "Learned Blacksmith" as a nickname

During his time in Birmingham he lived in Harborne, then a rural village of to the west of the city, in a house which he named New Britain Villas. He was actively involved the local community, taking part in the committee for the rebuilding of the nearby St. Peter's Church.

Burritt advocated that Britain, which introduced the uniform penny post in 1840, should introduce an international "ocean penny post" and reduce the cost from one shilling (12 pence) to threepence. He argued this would increase international correspondence, trade, and hence universal brotherhood. He urged the use of illustrated propaganda envelopes. Postal rates were gradually reduced, but his objective was not entirely achieved in his lifetime.

Elihu Burritt died on March 6, 1879 in New Britain.

Works[edit]

Burritt published at least 37 books and articles, including Sparks from the Anvil and Ten Minute Talks. In 1847, his pamphlet A Journal of a Visit of Three Days to Skibbereen made residents of the United States more aware of the potato famine in Ireland. He recorded his thoughts on the industrialization of communities in the Black Country in his book Walks in the Black Country.